Trump’s chief of staff Kelly to quit by end of 2018
V- P’s chief of staff Nick Ayers likely to be successor
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced his chief of staff John Kelly will soon be leaving the administration, the latest key personnel move at a time of mounting pressure from the Russia election- meddling probe. Mr Kelly’s replacement might be an interim chief of staff, until a permanent successor is found, the President said.
Washington, Dec. 9: US P re s i d e n t D o n a l d Trump on
S a t u r d a y announced his chief of staff John Kelly will soon be leaving the administration, the latest key personnel move at a time of mounting pressure from the Russia electionmeddling probe that comes amid increased focus on preparing for the 2020 elections.
Mr Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, was long rumored to be on the way out, amid reports that his relationship with the volatile Trump had deteriorated to such an extent they were no longer on speaking terms.
Some Democrats suggested that Trump timed the announcement to distract from troubling legal filings Friday from the special counsel investigating Russian meddling.
Prosecutors said Trump had directed his lawyer Michael Cohen to make illegal
payments to two women to silence allegations of sexual affairs.
The Kelly news reportedly was originally scheduled for Monday before the president made the impromptu announcement, speaking to reporters on the White House lawn.
"John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year," Trump said before heading to Philadelphia for the annual Army- Navy football game. "I appreciate his service very much."
He said a replacement — possibly an interim appointment — would be named "over the next day or two."
Nick Ayers, the 36- yearold chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, is widely touted to be Trump's favorite to succeed Kelly.
For all his youth, Ayers is said to have the political savvy — crucial as Trump plots a path to the 2020 election — that Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, lacked.
When Kelly, 68, was tabbed in July 2017 to replace chief of staff Reince Priebus, he inherited a White House plagued by political intrigue and internal disorder, and under a cloud because of the allegations of collusion with Russia.
Kelly is credited with bringing some discipline to the Oval Office.
When he took up his post, for example, the president's son- in- law Jared Kushner was reportedly holding regular informal conversations with Saudi Crown Prince.